The Ruling on Engaging in the Pursuit of Knowledge with Assistance
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
Also. What is your opinion regarding the statement of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah concerning people like Abu Habibah and others who are confined to the land? Shaykh al-Islam said that if one were to engage in a work better than earning a livelihood, such as seeking knowledge and benefiting people, and so on, without meaning supervision or reliance on people, then if he is given from that and engages in seeking knowledge, it would be better than if he left this work now. So he did.
The Shaykh:
The basis is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,Sahih Muslim 2664. The person who has the ability works and strives, whether in buying and selling, carpentry, blacksmithing, or planting, or does whatever he can. This is what is prescribed for the believer when he has the ability. As for the one who does not have the ability, he asks until he obtains a refreshing amount.
The questioner:
O the one who does good in the path of Allah until you pass by the people of Shifa.
The Shaykh:
Except the one who is unable and does not overdo it.
Also. What is your opinion regarding the statement of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah concerning people like Abu Habibah and others who are confined to the land? Shaykh al-Islam said that if one were to engage in a work better than earning a livelihood, such as seeking knowledge and benefiting people, and so on, without meaning supervision or reliance on people, then if he is given from that and engages in seeking knowledge, it would be better than if he left this work now. So he did.
The Shaykh:
The basis is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah
احْرِصْ عَلَى مَا يَنْفَعُكَ وَاسْتَعِنْ بِاللَّهِThe questioner:
O the one who does good in the path of Allah until you pass by the people of Shifa.
The Shaykh:
Except the one who is unable and does not overdo it.
Source
التعليق على رياض الصالحين، باب القناعة والعَفاف والاقتصاد في المعيشة : الأحاديث : [ 523 - 525 ] — islamhouse.com (7:43)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.